There’s a new word popular with the kids today, cheugy. Pronounced, chew-gee.
It sounds disgusting, or maybe how to describe what’s stuffed in a candy bar. “I love the new peanut butter Milky Way with caramel cheugy.”
Actually, cheugy is the word kids today use to describe trends that are out! Here’s a little run down of what’s oh so cheugy. (Just to clarify, GenZ does NOT want to be cheugy, and they get to decide what is, in fact, cheugy.)
The kids today have had it with chevron print, rhinestone water bottles, and “Live, Laugh, Love” signs. If you rock a side part or skinny jeans, you’re a cheug. Your love of pumpkin spice everything is oh so very cheugy.
The term #GirlBoss is cheugy. Hey, wait, I’ve always thought that term was lame. Maybe I’m hip! Maybe I’d be a hit with the GenZ crowd! Plus, trying too hard is VERY cheugy. I’m not trying to do anything these days. Things are looking up for my cool factor.
I’ve decided to take a closer look into my life and run it through the cheugy prism. Are the things I like and styles I embrace cool? Cheug free?
Alas, no. It’s as if the cheugy hose was turned on full blast and sprayed my life from roof to flip flops. The cheugy stank is strong.
First up, I’m a Disney Adult. I like visiting The Magic Kingdom. This is a Fast Pass to Cheug Town. Dancing with The Stars, a favorite of mine, puts a big red check in the cheugy box.
But in fashion, at least, I have a chance. Cheugy fashion involves the aforementioned trying too hard. These days I choose garments solely based on whether they hurt to wear. I couldn’t try less.
I’m given to understand that sporting floppy hats with cute phrases printed on the bill are so super cheugy that it nearly breaks the cheug meter. I have zero messaging on my headwear, so I’m good there too!
Some say it is problematic for one group to label another’s taste, style, or favorite things, as cheugy. Others have raised concerns that this term is mean or misogynistic. But on that second point, dudes can be cheugy too.
Regarding cheugy being problematic. No. Not at all. I’m on the side of the GenZ kids. The younger generation is allowed to classify styles and behaviors as outdated. Millennials called it basic, GenXers called it lame, and Boomers called it square.
If you’re a Millennial and some GenZ whipper snapper labels you or your Edison lightbulbs cheugy, relax. It’s just what the younger generation does. If you like your gray interior paint and French-tipped manicure, laugh it off and move on. Everything that was cool in 2016 or so is ancient to the kids.
It might be disconcerting if you’re new to being old. But as your cruise director of middle age, I’m advising you to get over it. You’re not cool. You’re lame. So am I. And anything you do to be cool makes you uncool, especially to teens. Embrace the cheug life and enjoy your pumpkin spice whatever. Trust me, it’ll be ironically hip again in the blink of an eye.
Cheug on that.
Originally published in Monroe News
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